Grandparents get thanks for reading, teaching aid

Mayor Jon Mitchell read a proclamation recognizing grandparents in New Bedford for their help in teaching young children to read.

CAROL KOZMA

NEW BEDFORD — It was a day to recognize the contributions of volunteers whose efforts span multiple generations.

Mayor Jon Mitchell Thursday, made a proclamation recognizing foster grandparents for their help in teaching young children to read. Mitchell joined more than 1,000 mayors in recognizing volunteers nation wide on Mayors Day of Recognition of National Service.

“We could do this in a lot of places in our city because there are so many volunteers city-wide helping our fellow citizens improve their lives, to give kids a better education, and to make our city a better place,” Mitchell said.

The mayor spoke in a PACE Head Start classroom downtown, a school that takes in about 350 kids between the ages of 3-5.

Foster Grandparent is a Coastline Elderly Services program funded through the Corporation for National Community Services and Elder Affairs, said Christine Voss, director of the program.

The 58 volunteers read and interact with kids in pre-schools, elementary schools, Head Start classrooms, and other education facilities in New Bedford, Dartmouth, Wareham, Plymouth, “and the towns in between,” she said.

Volunteers range in age from 55 to 94 years old, and all together gave almost 58,500 hours of their time to the program this year.

“Their goal is to interact with children on a one-on-one basis with a focus on pre-literacy and reading skills,” Voss said. The kids benefit from the volunteers’ time, she explained.

“Being a grandparent, they’re warm, they’re fuzzy and nurturing, they have time to listen they read the same story over and over again because that’s what the child wants,” she said.

And for the foster grandparents, it’s a way to stay connected to the community, giving them self-worth and self-esteem, she said.

“I enjoy being with (the kids,)” said Louise Ellis, 64, who has been part of the program since 2010. “A lot of them need hugs (and) love.”

Dianne Fisher, 66, said she did not think many people knew about the program, and said she was happy it was recognized by the city.